My Shining Light

Chapter 50

Lucy's eyes fluttered open and she looked around to find herself in an unfamiliar room. She lay on starchy white sheets with a cotton blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

Where was she?

She tried to sit up, but her head was pounding. With the room spinning and nausea overwhelming her, it seemed she had no choice but to lie back down. 

At least she was finally out of that horrid restroom.

This room appeared clinical, the smell of disinfectant filling the stale space. It was quiet and empty except for an open cupboard displaying cloths, ointments, and utensils. A pale green curtain lined the left side and a large window framed the right.

She had a nice view of outside. Purple azaleas lined the courtyard downstairs where she spotted the idols hanging about together. So, she was still at school. It must be recess now. That meant she'd missed the whole first session of training.

There was one person she automatically searched for. He was sitting away from the others, slouched in the corner with his head peering down at his phone. She realised then that she hadn't texted Jinwoo back and he must be wondering what had happened to her.

What had happened to her? How on earth did she get here?

The last thing she remembered was the snapping of the lock on the toilet door as it slammed open. Screams escaped her mouth as she took in the masked figure before her, the sharp blade glinting in their palm. She shuddered, the sick feeling returning at the thought of it slicing into her.

That couldn't have happened. Drained and weak she may be, but she was essentially unharmed. Someone must have scared off her attacker. There was one thing that she was sure she heard before everything went black and that was Aera's voice.

She heard it again through the curtain now.

Aera spoke rapidly, her breath shaky. "Lucy's out cold, lying in the sick bay! Oh my gosh, Taewoong, I heard the sound of her screaming..." 

Aera was on the phone to Taewoong? No! She did not want him to know anything about this! He was still traumatised from the very first time he came to her rescue. Finding her lying in a heap on Taeho's apartment floor, he was the one who saw the aftermath of that frightful night. She was sure it haunted him just as much as it did her.

"When I rushed in, there was someone in there!" Aera cried. "I don't know, they had a hood on and ran off when they saw me. Plus I was too focused on getting to Lucy. I found her passed out on the floor! Luckily one of the strong dance teachers came by. He helped me to carry her up here."

Oh my gosh, a man carried her? Like this?! Lucy peeked under the blanket to find herself still in her pink bra. Where was her shirt?!

She peered around and found her black bag at the foot of the bed. Putting a hand out to steady herself and ignoring the pain of her scald, she slowly leaned down to grab clean clothes from inside.

"Yes," Aera continued, "the school nurse checked her over. She has a few scrapes and bruises, but I think she's physically okay."

"Yes, I'm okay," she whispered to herself as she took in a deep breath and pulled a crisp white top carefully over her head. "It was just a nightmare coming to life, I am perfectly fine."

"I'm shaken up by this," she heard Aera say.

Suddenly the room went quiet. Lucy sat at the edge of the bed, guilt sinking into her bones. It had been some time since she'd passed out from a panic attack and had to be taken care of by Aera or Taewoong.